GE to roll out Major Marketing and Research Initiative

General Electric Co is scheduled to roll out a major marketing and research initiative today that will focus on the environment, Wall Street Journal reported.

The comprehensive plan includes more than doubling its research investment on environmentally friendly technologies in the next five years as well as doubling its sales of new technologies that conserve water and reduce greenhouse-emitting gases that contribute to global warming, the newspaper cited people familiar with the plan as saying.

At the same time, GE is looking to reduce its own greenhouse-emitting gases, primarily carbon dioxide and increase its energy efficiency, sources told the paper.

GE expects to reduce its emissions mostly through fuel switching, and is looking at powering at least one facility through wind-power.

Chairman and Chief Executive Jeffrey Immelt is scheduled to give a speech in Washington DC today, encouraging the energy industry develop market-based, proactive policies to address carbon dioxide issues, the report said.